In the increasingly digital environment of the business world, a lot of companies are considering their business data one of the core company resources. However, whether you are a start-up or a huge corporation, data theft and online or web threats are a real risk and can cause a huge disruption for any business.
As many companies hire their legal teams or just a white collar crime attorney, depending on the nature of their work, it is also important for them to have a check and balance when it comes to the security of the company. Without detailed business procedures and security protocols, the organization may leave themselves open to many risks, threats, and their consequences.
That said, because potentially damaging threats to any business and its security can be avoided, all companies should protect their physical and intellectual property in the best way possible. Here are a few basic and practical tips for you to keep your business data safe and secure.
Have a strategy
In the digital world, having a vague idea about your business policies and procedures is not enough, regardless of the size of the business. They need a formal IT and data security strategy that's comprehensive and inclusive of all possible risks and threats.
It's also important that your strategy defines how to protect business data and resources as well as the action plan in case something goes wrong. By having an incident-response action plan in your strategy, you will be able to make sound and quick decisions and avoid any heat-of-the-movement reactions. That said, make sure to go over your strategy from time to time and make informed and educated changes and updates and as required.
Protection against malware
Another way to protect your business data is to secure your computers and networks from possible malware. Malware can fill up any unprotected machine as malicious software causes various amounts of data damage. That said, you can protect your business from malware by using the following tips:
PC protection - A good security system will protect your machine and your data without any compromise on the performance of your network or computer. Try to get the protection that offers diverse facilities including identity theft, hacking, and suspect websites.
Use the firewall - Even though it's not enough but the on-board the firewall on your router delivers the first line of defense. So, make sure you turn it on.
Keep the emails clean - Make sure to use software to protect you from unwanted emails. They can cause a distraction for employees or lead to unacceptable behavior. So, make sure to stop them in their tracks.
Secure your wireless network
Businesses that use a wireless network need to be very careful as hackers are often waiting to disrupt the system any chance they get. The encryption key might be enough to stop any non-tech-savvy person in their track but it won't be able to stop hackers.
Hence, make sure to strengthen your router with the help of strongest encryption and turning off the broadcasting function, which makes you invisible for entities outside the network.
Secure the passwords
At times the simple steps can work wonders in protecting your data. Trying to remember complex passwords may be troubling but the more complex your password is the more protected you are.
That said, make sure your passwords are eight characters or more and they include numbers and other special characters that make your passwords more complex and difficult to guess. Besides, another good practice is to frequently change your passwords and to use a combination of random letters, number,s and special characters instead of complete words or any other kind of identifiers.
The best part is that you don’t need to worry about remembering any of these random passwords. Password managers have made it very easy for employees and companies to keep up with several accounts and their corresponding passwords.
Opt for automatic software updates
Hackers would often scan your network to figure out which the software version you are running on your system, which makes it easier for them to play on the vulnerabilities of software, particularly older versions. However, updating the network security settings and operating systems with updated versions van help you prevent a lot of damage.
Allow any patches or recommended improvements to run automatically in the background, as this will help you further secure your data against possible threats.
Do background checks
Being extra careful when it comes to hiring new employees because it's highly important to safeguard your business data against any internal threat that plat a key role in cybersecurity. Make sure you conduct background checks on your new employees and get an understanding of what kind of people you are hiring.
That said, you must also be observant of any changes in the the behavior of your existing employees because this could possibly indicate future issues.
Dispose of your data the right way
A key factor in reducing the threat of a security or data breach is having proper measures being practiced to dispose of the unwanted data. To do that, you must make sure that any unused or reused devices or storage outlets have their contents carefully removed. This helps you ensure that the company's confidential data is not put in danger by the means of getting into the wrong hands.
Have a plan for personal devices
A more common issue that small to medium-sized businesses face is the security threats associated with their employees using their own devices at work or for work purposes.
If you allow your employees to use their own devices, make sure your business security network offers protection from any legal repercussions and costs of mobile systems. Hence, it's important to have a detailed and easy to comprehend policy addressing pertinent data deletion, internet monitoring issues, and location tracking.
Businesses should also provide a proper system for employees who work remotely or for any reason use their own devices for work because even though these activities tend to have a positive effect on employee morale, they also, open up new security concerns.
Start using the cloud
When it comes to the security of your business data it is very important to have realistic expectations of your existing system. If you don't have the resources or expertise to keep up with all security problems like required updated, it might be a better option for you to turn to cloud service instead.
Your cloud provider can offer you data storage services and help you maintain software patches.
Cloud service might not be the most viable option for enterprises but small businesses can definitely work smoothly with this approach and get stronger data protection.
Educate your employees
A big part of having a successful data security strategy is to have a strong implementation strategy. It is important that you make sure all your employees understand the core security policies of your company. Either you want to offer the information during their onboarding process or conduct bi-annual training, make sure you provide your employees the ability to keep up with your security policies and ensure business data is only in the right hands.
